Electrical outlet



NOV. 29, 1949 BONHAM 2,489,741

ELECTRICAL OUTLET Filed Feb. 20, 1947 INVEN TOR. A00 3 500600;

Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL OUTLET Louis E. B'onliam, Birmingham, Ala.

Application. February 20, 1947, Serial No. 729,844 3' Claims. (01; 173-330) This invention relates to an electrical outlet device such as is employed to connect electrical appliances, tools and the like to the usual outlet box in a shop or residence and has for one of its objects the provisionof a device of the character designated which shall include a socket member and a plug member capable of being connected by a simple pull on the electrical con- Iductor to which the plug member is connected.

A further object of my invention is to provide an electrical outlet comprising a socket member and a plug member in which the plug member is latched in position. in the socket member so it cannot become accidentally disconnected.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, electrical outlet connections are usually comprised of a socket member having relatively narrow openings or slits with spring contact members encased therein to receive the blades of a plug member which are held in place by frictional engagement with the contact membars. The socket members are often mounted, especially in homes, in relatively inaccessible places along base boards, and in order to insert a plug in place it requires a person to stoop, kneel or assume a squatting position. Further, where appliances are connected, such as vacuum cleaners, electric irons, tools and the like, which are moved from place to place, the plugoften becomes detached fromv the socket member due to an inadvertent pull on the cord carrying the conductors in the plug member. in accordance with my invention, I provide an outlet connection in which the plug member is held in firm electrical contact with the terminals of the socket member and in which it is not necessary to stoop, or kneel in order to place the plug member in the socket or to detach it therefrom. A device embodying features of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the device, showing a socket member having multiple sockets and Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention I show a socket member having a body portion I0 with a plurality of sockets ll therein. A plug member l2 having electrical conductors l3 and 14 connected thereto fits slidably in each of the sockets H in a manner to be described later. In Fig. -1 of the drawing, I show two of the plug members in position and the third in the position assumed when being inserted in its associated socket H.

At is I show the usual outlet box to which a cable I! carrying conductors l8- and I9 is connected. The body portion H) of the socket member may be attached to the outlet box [6 by means of clips 2| and 22 engaging a cover plate 23 on the outlet box. It will be apparent, however, that the body portion may be attached to the outlet box by any suitable means. As shown in Figs. 2

and 5 of the drawings, the outlet box It has located therein the usual socket member 24 having slits 26 and 21 therein in which are located conductors 23 and 29 connected in the usual manner to the conductors l8 and IS. The body portion ll] of the socket member is provided with blades 3| and 32 to fit into the slits 26 and 21 and make electrical connection with the conductors 28 and 29. The blades 3| and 32 are connected in any suitable manner to contact members 33 and 34 in each of the sockets ll.

As shown in Fig. 1, the sockets ll are preferably rectangular in cross section with the terminals 33 and 34 in the bottoms thereof. One end of each socket is provided with a flaring opening 35 which in event the outlet is located in a base board is preferably disposed downwardly. The plug member I2 is also rectangular in cross section to provide a loose sliding fit in the socket I. The plug member [2 is made up of two parts 33 and 31 which may be joined together by means of screws 38 and 39 to which are attached the conductors l3 and I4 and also resilient contact members 4! and 42. The contact members 4| and 42 are preferably curved as shown in Fig. ;2

of the drawing. As shown in Fig. 1 the portion 36 of the plug member I2 is shorter than the portion 31 and the latter is provided with an overhanging shoulder 43 and with a rectangular opening 44 therein beyond the end of the portion 30 of the plug. Slidably fitting within the opening 44 is a latch member 46 which is biased outwardly by means of a leaf spring 41 secured to the under side of the portion 31 by means of a screw 48. Shoulders 49 and 5| engage the sides of the opening 44 to prevent the latch member irom moving out of the opening 44. The latch and 68. hanging shoulders 69 and H defining a slot [2 connection is disposed near the floor.

member 46 may be pressed inwardly by means of a button head 52 on the outer end of a stem 53.

The socket II is provided with overhanging shoulders 45 and 50 defining between them a slot 54 extending the length of the socket. The overhanging shoulders are provided with pposed notches 56 and 51. The latch member 46 is provided with shoulders 55 and 6|, which, as the plug member is being inserted, are engaged by the flaring opening 35 to push the latch member inwardly with the shoulders engaged on the inner side of the overhanging shoulders 45 and 50. As soon as the latch member reaches the opposed notches 56 and 51, the spring 41.

pushes the latch member outwardly so that the shoulders 59 and 6| engage in the notches 56 and 51 and securely hold the plug member in place. In this position, the contact members 4| and 42 are in engagement with the contact members 33 and 34 in the body portion Ill. Once so positioned, the plug member cannot acci dentally become disengaged.

Referring now to Fig. 6 of the drawing, I show 'a modified form of my invention comprising a 'socket member 65 having a socket 66 therein which is closed at both ends as shown at 61 At one end of the socket 66 are overtherebetween similar to the slot 54 in the body portion ID in the modification first described.

At the lower end of the slot 12, as viewed in Fig. 6, are notches l3 and 14, similar to the opposed notches 56 and 51. These notches are adapted to receive the latch member 16 of a plug H and hold it in position. As shown in- Fig. 6, the plug member 11 is shorter than the plug member 12 of the first modification, but in all other respects it is similarly constructed and the latch member 16 is mounted similarly to the latch member 46 and requires no detailed description. To position plug H, it is inserted in the open end of the socket and slid under the overhanging shoulders 69 and H until the latch 3 member 16 engages the opposed notches l3 and I4. Conductors l8 and 19 are connected to the plug 1! through a single cord 8!.

While I have shown my invention in each instance with the sockets II and 65 vertically disposed, it will be apparent that they may be horizontally disposed, or disposed in any desired direction. In the modification described in Figs. '1 to of the drawings and with the sockets l I lvertically disposed, it will be seen that it is not necessary to stoop or kneel in order to insert the plug member l2 in a socket where the outlet It is only necessary to position the plug member as shown "by the detached plug member in Fig.1 of the drawing, and pull the cord l5 carrying the conductors l3 and I4 upwardly until the plug member enters the socket I I and the latch member 46 is engaged in the notches 56 and 51. To disengage the latch member 46, the button 52 may be pushed inwardly with the toe so that no "socket is provided with 'end thereof.

ordinarily be located at a distance above the floor of the building and the plug member Tl would be inserted in the socket 66 and pushed downwardly until the latch member 76 was engaged in the notches l3 and 14. When so mount- .ed, it will be seen that the plug member will not accidentally be disengaged from the socket member.

From the foregoing, it will be apparent that I have devised an improved electrical outlet which is simple and sturdy ofdesign, which retains the outlet connection against accidental disengagement and in which the plug member may be readily engaged and'disengaged when desired.

While I have'shown my invention in but two forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various changes and modifications, without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An electrical outlet comprising a stationary member having an elongated socket openiat both ends, overhanging shoulders along the sides of the socket defining a slot therebetween and'extending from end to end, electric terminals in the bottom of the socket, and a plug member adapted to fit slidably within the socket underneath the shoulders and having resilient electric terminals adapted to engage the terminals in the socket, a sp'r ing pressed latch carried by the plug member and having an actuating stein extending outwardly through the slot, and notches provided in the overhanging shoulders 'to engage the latch and hold the plug member in place.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the a I flaring opening at one 3. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which m resilient terminals are curved. j LOUIS BONHAM.

REFERENCES ClTED The following references, are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,578,999 Kaschub Mar. 30, 1926 2,042,105 Kelley May 26, 1936 2,076,558 Hartman Apr. 13, 1937 2,166,543 Wagar'"; July 18, 1939 2,348,665 Von Gehr May 9, 1944 

